Once there was woman who would get overwhelmed with her housework from time to time. She was industrious, and not lazy at all, but there were times when it just got away from her. Her husband was considerate and thoughtful, and so he surprised her one day with the news that he had hired someone …
Free and Full Forgiveness
As we have told you many times, the designated time for confession of sin is not here at this Table. If you are walking with the Lord, you will confess sin whenever you commit it, and you will put it right with anyone you need to put it right with immediately. As we all need …
The Sin of Secularism
Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all. Father and God, we confess to You now that nations of …
The Averted War of Malchus’ Ear
In the early eighteenth century, there was a war between England and Spain called the War of Jenkins’ Ear. In the New Testament, there was almost a conflict called the War of Malchus’ Ear, but it was averted because Jesus put the ear back (Luke 22:51). “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and …
Our Particular Table
Yesterday I gave a talk to the Logos secondary as part of their Knights Festival, as a lead-in to their banquet. The text I was using was Luke 14, and I noticed something there I had not seen before. Jesus is breaking bread with one of the chief Pharisees (Luke 14:1). That is the context …
The Eternal Word
Book 1/Chapter 13 The Eternal Word (section 8) 1. How do false teachers undermine the deity of Christ? 2. At what point do they think the Word began? 3. What passage of Scripture does Calvin use to contradict this? Christ our God in the Old Testament (section 9) 1. What is the significance of Psalm …
More on the Trinity
Book 1/Chapter 13 The Limits (section 5) 1. What is the fundamental affirmation about the Trinity which Calvin requires? 2. Have the church fathers spoken on this with one voice? 3. What are the dangers of speaking about this at all? 4. What is the essential attitude of the false teachers? 5. Can someone scruple …
The Trinity and the Language of Scripture
Book I/Chapter 13 God & Reason (section 1) 1. What are two different kinds of errors that arise concerning God’s spiritual and infinite essence? 2. Why does God speak “sparingly” of His essence? 3. How must we not measure God? 4. What does Calvin mean when he says that God “lisps” to us? 5. What …
Fragment of a Lost Tale
Sometimes editors make you take things out, you know? And sometimes you do it yourself. But then you find it later.
Spooky Numbers
A friend sent me this link and I almost posted it, and then a few days later I saw it on Mark Horne’s blog and decided to put it up here. The numbers are creepy any way you think about it, but I do wish there were another set of numbers alongside these. I believe …